Electric switch.



C. J. KLEINn ELECTRIG SWITCH.

APPLICATION man APR. 2a. 1911.

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CJ. KLEIN.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

I APPLICATION FILED `IIPR. 2B. ISI!- LT/g,

Patented Nom 2"?, MII?.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

maar sas ana i' CHARLES J. KLEIN, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO THE CUTLER-HIVIIJIEEEE, MFG. CO., OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION 0F WISCONSIN.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Application iled April 28, 1911.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, CHARLES J. KLmN, a. citizen of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Electric Switches, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to electric switches.

In this application I shall describe one form in which it is applied to a push-button flush switch, but my invention is in no wise limited to this specific form and may assume various other forms and may be used in various other relations.

In switches of the type known as fiush switches which are adapted to be set in a wall so that the front casing of the switch lies Hush with the surface of the wall, it is highly desirable to provide a switch construction which is adapted to break the electric circuit with great rapidity so that the sparking` between the contacts where the circuit is broken is reduced tothe minimum. Further on account of the limited space which such switches are often required to occupy it is highly desirable to provide a switch mechanism in which the contact parts are only required to move a short distance in order to disrupt the arc and for the entire switch mechanism to be. of a very compact construction. Further it is highly desirable to provide a switch mechanism which is exceedingly strong and reliable and composed of a small number of parts which will withstand long wear in service.

One object of my invention is to provide an improved electric switch adapted to break an electric circuit with a. quick snap action even when actuated by ay relatively slowly moving part.

A. further object of my invention is to provide an improved electric switch adapted to break circuit with a quick snap action in which the amount of movement of the contact members is very small so that theV switch may be very compactly assembled. A further object of my invention is to provide an improved electric switch which is simple of construction, reliable, and adapted to withstand long wear in service. In order to illustrate the principle of my Speciication of Letters latent.

Patented Nov 2372?, Serial No. 623,904.

invention I have shown inthe accompany ing drawings one form which it may assume in practice. My invention is not however limited to the specific form thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In these drawings z- Figure 1 shows a side elevation of this form of my improved switch.

Fig. 2 shows a sectional view of the same.

Fig. 3 shows a top plan view of the same.

Fig. 4 shows a partial longitudinal sectional view on line 4 4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 shows a sectional view on line of Fig. 1.

In these gures I have illustrated a switch mechanism mounted upon an insulating base l, which includes a movable contact carrying member 2 adapted to be reciprocated upon vertically disposed shafts 3 fixed to the base 1 on opposite sides of the same, when one of two cam-carrying reciprocable push-buttons 4 and 5 is reciprocated upon posts 6 and 7 suitably fixed te the base on opposite sides of the movable contact carrying member 2.

The movable contact carrying member 2 is made of insulating material and preferably has a substantially rectangular cross section having square ends 8. The edges of this member 2 between the ends tl are beveled as at 9 so as to form inclined sur faces on the sides and tops of the same separated bv narrow iat surfaces parallel with the side surfaces of the square ends. In a preferred form this member 2 is provided with a vertically extendingperforai tion on each side which is centrally located and passes through the fiat upper and lower surfaces of the beveled portion of the contact carrying member at points approxi* mately the same distance apart from the middle line of this beveled portion and on opposite sides of the same. In each of these perforations is mounted a sleeve l0 which extends beyond thel upper and lower surapproxiynately `opposite 'the shafts 3 in the L titi flat side of the left hand beveled portion of the movable contact carrying member 27 while two steel balls 12 are similarly located on the opposite side of' the Contact carrying member. (See Figs. 2, 4 and 5.) If desired, suitable recesses la and 52l may be formed in the upper beveled portions of the movable contact carrying member 2, between the balls 11 and between the balls 12 to permit the free movement of the push buttons 4 and 5.

lThe function of this movable contact carrying member is to open and close the contacts of the switch. Iii the construction shown in this application, I have illustrated this member as adapted to break both sides of an electrical circuit.` vThe movable contacts are carried on the outer surface of the rectangular ends 8 of the movable contact carrying member and consist of oppositely extending sheet contacts 13 suitably fixed as by screws 14 or any other desirable means, to the outer ends 8 of this member. In a preferred form, the outer surface of' each of these rectangular ends 8 is provided with a pair of vertically extending slots 15, insulated from each other, into which the inner ends of the contacts 13 are fitted, and may be adjusted if desired. The line connections for these contacts 13 are made through suitable binding posts 17 suitably fiXedto the base at opposite sides of the same, and include two sets of stationary contacts 18 electrically vconnected to the binding posts, and two intermediate substantially U-shaped contact members 16 located between the stationary contacts 18 and insulated from said contacts 18 by the base 1. When the movable contact carrying member 2, carrying the contacts 13, is moved to circuit closing position, the circuit is simutaneously made at four points at each side of the line, and when the movable contact carrying member 2 moves upward, `the circuit is broken simultaneously at thesev four points on each side of the line and `the Acircuit closing position.

are is divided between these points. In order to illustrate this more clearly, let us yassume that the switch mechanism shown in Fig. 1 is in the down position, that is, in the The path of the current through the contacts would then be as follows; assuming that the current enters through one of the binding posts 17: Through the binding post .17 to the left hand stationary'contact 18, up through this contact to the left hand movable Contact 13, across this inovablefcontact 13 to the'left hand arm of the U-shaped intermediate stationary contact 19, through the body of this contact and up through its right hand arm, to the right hand movable contact 13, through this movable contact 13 to the right hand stationary contact 18 and down through this contact to the right hand bindling post 17. Thus the current will flow in series through the stationary and'inovable contacts of the switch and when the circuit is broken on the upward movement of the movable contact carrying member 2,l it will be broken simultaneously at four points on each side of the line, that is, at

arc formed between tlie contacts on each side of the line into these four parts I find that the sparking at the contacts is very greatly reduced, so that the life and efficiency of the contact members is very greatly iny creased, and that the switch may-be of a'.

very compact construction since the amount which the movable contacts have to move in order to completely disrupt the arc is.

only one fourth of that which they would have to move if the arc was only roken at one point.` Further, by increasing ithe number of points at which the circuit is broken the lengths of the arcs and the amount'of necessary movement of the contactA parts to' disrupt the ysame may obviously be reduced' to any desired degree. y

The movable contact carrying member 2 is adapted to reciprocate' upon the shafts 3 upon the vertical movement of the push buttons 41 and 5 on the vertical posts 6 and 7 fixed to the base on opposite sides of the contact member 2. In a preferred form these push buttons 4 and 5 are composed of insulating material and are guided in their movement by an upper, plate 20. having perforations 21 throi'igli' which the push buttons 4 and 5 maybe reclprocated. This plate 20 is preferably supported by vertical standards 22 suitably fixed to the opposite ends of the base 1 `at points in aliiement faces in which are fitted sleeves 23. and 24' adapted to receive the upper ends of the posts and 7 and to be rcciprocated thereon. Each of these sleeves 23 and 24 is preferably provided with a 'collar 25 located at about the middle of the same which is adapted to have its upper surface bear against thc lower surface of its push button. Upon the lower end of each of these sleeves 23 and 24 is carried a pair of oppositely extending cam members 26 and 27. The two cam members 26 are revolubly mounted upon the sleeves 23, while the two cam members 27 are revolubly mounted upon the sleeves 24. In a preferred form these cam members 26 and 27 are each provided at their ends with inwardly extending arms 28 and 29 having perforations in their free ends through which the sleeves 23 and 24 arel passed. In a preferred form the arms 28 are set slightly farther apart than the arms 29 and inclosc the same. The cams 26 and 27 are preferably formed of stamped metal and their cam surfaces are of the shape, indicated in Fig. 2. The cam surfaces of the two cams on the opposite sides of the sleeve 23 are each of a similar conformation while the cam surfaces of each of the two cams on the opposite sides of the sleeve 24 are also of a similar conformation. As shown in this figure, the cam 26 is provided with a cam surface having oppositely inclined sides which converge toward the center and are provided with knobs or projections 30 at their ends. 'i`he cams 27 are provided with cam surfaces which are of the same general construction as the cams 26, but whose active surface is the opposite of that of the cam 26. Consequently while the cams 26 have somewhat the conformation ot' a valley having'two diverging slopes, the cam 27 has somewhat the conformation of a hill having two slopes converging at the crest. As in the case of the cams 26 the ends of the slopes of the cam 27 are provided with projections 31, but in this case the projections are oppositely disposed to those on the cams 26. Further it is to be noted that the two slanting sides of the cams 27 meet at a sharper edge than do the slanting sides of the cams 2G.

rlhe function ot' these cams 26 and 27 is to bear against the balls 11 and 12 set in the opposite sides of the beveled portion of the movable Contact member 2 so that when the cams are rcciprocated by the movement of the push buttons 4 and 5 this member will be moved vertically on the shafts 23 to change the circuit connections of the switch with a quick snap action. This resilient movement is furnished by helical springs` 32 and 33 which encircle the sleeves 23l and 2i at points between the arms 29 ot' one ot' the cam members, and whose opposite ends are brought ont in back ot' the cams as shown at 34 and 35 in Fig. 5. The normal action of these springs is to cause the cams to bear against the balls 11 and 12 and 'throw the cams slightly forward and inward toward each other. In order to throw one of the push buttons and the cams carried therewith on the sleeves, to the up position when the other push button and its cams are pushed downward and at the same time give a positive movement to the movable contact carrying member 2 as well as the snap movement imparted to this member 2 by the springs 32 and 33, 1 have provided a. rocking member or plate 36 pivoted to the base l on a short center pin 37. This plate has bil'urcated ends 3S which pass around the lower parts of the posts (5 and 7 at points below the sleeves 23 and 2i, and are adapted to engage washers 39 encircling` the shafts and force these washers upward to raise one ot' the sets ot cams and one push button when the other set of cams and the other push button is lowered, so that a positive action is supplied to move one set et' parts up when the other set is pushed downward. l will now describe the operation oi a switch constructed in accordance with the drawings. Let us assume that the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 1. with the circuit open. When in Ythis position the balls 11 on the left hand side ot the movable contact carrying member 2. rest at thc bottom of the valley cams 2G and the balls 12 on the opposite sides ot' the member 2 rest against the upper projections b1 on the hill cams 27. As the push button -l is lowered. the cams 26 will be thrown backward about the sleeve as a pivot, due to the engagement of their upper surfaces with the balls 11 and the cams 2G will be forced downward past the balls l1. The cams 27 on the other hand, however, will be thrown bachward about the sleeve 2J( as a pivot, due to the engagement ot' their upper surfaces with the balls 12 and these cams will be forced past the balls 12. The etl'ect oi this movement will be to pnt the movable contact carrying member 2 under pressure on opposite sides. This pressure will continue until the balls 12 pass over the crests ol the hill cams 27 when it will be suddenly relieved and the cams 27 will pass above the balls 12., and be ircc to be swung about their axis to their normal position by their helical spring Since the balls 12 have passed over the crests of the cams 27 the movable contact carrying member 2 will then be tree to move downward and will be impelled in that direction by the lower slopes of the hill cams 27 as these cams are swung inward by their spring. Further at this time the cams 26 are exerting a downward pressure on the balls 11 and when the movable contact carrying member is freed the spring 32 of these cams 2G throws the cams inward so that the faces ot' the same are pressed against the balls l1 to cause the movable contact carrying member? to move downward. Thus after the balls i2 have passed over the slopes ofthe hill cams 27 a downward pressure is exerted on both the balls l2 and the balls 1l which results in avdownward movement of the member 2 with a positive quick snap action. When it is desired to break the circuit the operation which has just been described is reversed and the other push button 5 is pressed downward to cause the hill cams 27 to move downward and the valley Cams 2G and the push button I tomove upward. In each of these movements there is the same positive snap action of the switch mechanism, and the same quick break at the switch contacts, the balls 1;) traveling the entire length of the hill cam' 2T during each operation while the balls 1l engaging the A valley cams 26 travel alternately from the bottom or center' portion of these valiey cams 26 to one end of the same. and then back to the center portion ot' the cams ready .to be moved toward the opposite end of the cams and back to the center ot' the same on the next operation.

By my improved construction the length of the arc formed between the contacts and the necessary amount of movement of the movable contact member to disrupt the same may be'reduced to any desired degree so that. the switch contacts are maintained at their maximum efficiency for a great length of time and the switch may be very compactly assembled. Further due to the snap switch mechanism which I have employed the-'circuit is broken very rapidl i and` with a positive, quick, snap action which also tends to reduce the sparking and occurs no matter how slowly'. the operating members for the switch mechanism are actuated so that the snap action of the switch may not be defeated by a slow movement of the operating members. Further due to the action of the rocking plate beneath the push buttons each push button and its cam mechanism is thrown to its proper position by a '.po'sitive action when the position of the ,other push button and cam mechanism 1s changed so that the parts are always in a position to be operated.

It is to be understood that the foregoing description refers to the typical embodiment of the invention disclosed in the drawing and that' in practice modifications of structure may be employed without departure from the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In an electric switch, in combination,v

reci rocable o erated and o eratine membersmovable relatively, contacts associated. with said operated member, concave and convex cams each` xed to one of said members and bearing against the other and a spring under the control ofsaidcams to receive a store of energy by the actlon thereof,

one of said cams acting to hold said oper-l ated member stationary during storage of energy in said spring` and said spring thereafter copcrating with said cams 4to move said operated member under the direction of said cams.

2. In an electric switch, 'in combination, a reciprocable operated member having associated contacts, reciprocable operating members therefor interlocked to move in opposite directions, convex and concave cams fixed to said operating members and bearing upon said operated member and a spring under the control of said cams adapted to have enel-gv stored therein by the action thereof, one of said cams acting to hold said operated member stationary during storage of energy in said spring and said spring thereafter cooperating with said cams to move said ope 1ated member with a snap action, the direction of movement ofvsaid operated member being determinable by said cams.

3. In an electric switch, in combination, a reciprocable operated member having contacts' associated therewith, an operating member. a cain on one of said members bearing against the other and tending throughout movement of said operating member to shift said operated member to an opposite extreme position, a spring under the conti il of said cam adapted to have energy stored therein by the action of said cam and to coperate with said cam to shift said operated member and means associated withY said operatingmember to-hold said operatedmember during storage of energy 1n said .spring and to release said operated member` for' shifting thereof under the mfiuence of said spring and cam.

4. In an electric switch, in combinat-ionftV a reciprocable operated 4member having con-1 ber 'against movement during a limited initial movement of said operating member and to then `release the former and a springY associated with one of said members adapted to have energy stored therein .by the action of one of said cams while said operating member is held against movement and to c oact with one of said cams to move said operated member when released. y

5. In an electric switch, in combination, a reciprocable operated member having contacts associated therewith, a reciprocable operating member, a" concave cam on one of said members .bearing against the other and Itending throughout movement of saidoperating member to move said operated -member in a corresponding direction for selectiye, circuit changing movementof the latter, a convex cam associated with one of said members a'd bearing against the other to restrain aile release said operated member 'i'n different po itions of said operating mem- ,r and a spring coacting with said cams ton effect movement of said operated member I with a snap action.

mamen Y,

reciprocable operated and operating members, contacts associated with said operated member, a spring to receive and store energy, a cam on one of said members bearing against the other and tending throughout movement of said operating member to move said operated member in the direction of its ultimate movement and means associated with and controlled by said members to divert the action ofsaid cam for storage of energy in said spring during a predetermined initial movement of said operating member in either direction.

7. ln an electric switch, in combination, a reciprocable operated member having associated contacts, a pair of push button 'operating members therefor interlocked to move in opposite directions, means to receive and store energy upon movement of said operating members for imparting accelerated movement to said operated member, a plurality of inclined surfaces on said operating members and engaging parts on said operated member riding in a single direction over a plurality of Said surfaces and back and forth over other of said surfaces upon movement of said operating member 'to elfect said accelerated movement of said operated member through the medium of said means.

8. ln an electric flush switch, in combination, a reciprocable operated member having associated contacts, a pair of push button operating members interlocked to reciprocate in opposite directions, means to receive and store energy upon movement of said operating members for imparting an accelerated movement to said operated member in either direction, a plurality of inclined surfaces on said operating members and engagparts on said operated member riding in one direction over a plurality of said surfaces and back and forth over either of two others of said surfaces during relative movenement of said members to selectively effect accelerated movement of said operated member in accordance with the direction of movement of said operating member.

fn an electric switch, in combination, a reciprocable operated member having asscciated contacts, an operating member, connecting means between said members to exert counterbalancing pressures on said operated member during initial movement of .said operating member to thereby hold the former against movement and to thereafter relieve one of said pressures to release said operated member and a spring coacting with said connecting means to move said operated menil with a snap action when released.

id. in an electric flush switch, in combination, a reciprocable operated member having associated contacts, a pair of push button operating members therefor mterlocked to reciprocate in opposite directions, a pa1r of cams on one of said push buttons engaging said operated member for effecting selective movement thereof, a pair of convex cams on the other` push button engaging said operated member for temporarily restraining the same, and means associated with said cams for receiving and storing energy upon movement thereof relative to said operated member.

11. VIn an electric flush switch, in combination, a reciprocable operated member having associated contacts, a pair of push button operating members therefor interlocked to reciprocate in opposite directions, a pair of cams on one of said push buttons engaging said operated member for effecting selective movement thereof, a pair of convex cams on the other push button engaging said operated member forA temporarily restraining the same, and means associated with said cams for receiving and storing energy upon movement thereof relative to said operated member and to expend such energy for imparting accelerated movement to said operated member after cessation of the restraint thereon by said convex cams.

l2. In an electric flush switch, in combination, a 'pair of spaced push button operating members interlocked to reciprocate in opposite directions, a reciprocable operated member having associated contacts and disposed between. said push buttons, means associated with said members to receive and store energy upon movement of said push buttons for imparting a subsequent acceleration to said operated member in a circuit changing direction, a concave cam movable with one of said push buttons and engaging said operated member to determine the direction of movement of the latter in accordance with thedirection of movement of said push button, and a convex cam on the other of said push buttons engaging said operated member to time the acceleration of the latter, said cams coperating during initial movement of said push buttons to effect a storage of energy in said energy-storing means.

13. An electric switchprovided with a reciprocable operated member having associated contacts, reciprocable cams engaging said operated member and interlocked to move simultaneously in opposite directions and a spring, said cams coacting to store energy in said springy While holding said operated member stationary and said spring after receiving a storage of energy coacting with said cams to move said operated member.

14. A flush switch provided with contact actuating means comprising a movable member, convex and concave cams in resilient engagement with said movable member and ush buttons for actuating said cams and mterlocked to simultaneously move said button and engaging the opposite side ofl said member, certain of said cams being convex and others concave, means for holding said cams and said members in resilient engagement and means operatively connecting said push buttons to move the same withy their respective cams in opposite directions upon operation of either of the same.

A16. lIn a flush switch, in,.comb1nat1on, a

`sliding member, contacts/carried thereby,

guides for said sliding member, a pair of push buttons, a'pair of spaced cams connected to each push button, Ysaid pair of cams being in resilient engagement Withsaid sliding member on opposite sides thereof, certain of said cams being concave and others convex, and means ,connecting said push buttons to c'ause the saineto inoiff'e with their cams in opposite directions upon operation of either.

17. In a flush svi/itch, in combination, a sliding member, contacts carried thereby, a pair of push buttons, a pair of spaced cams connected to each push button, said pair of cams being in resilient engagement With said sliding member upon opposite sides thereof, certain of said cams-being concave and others convex, means connecting said pushbuttonsto cause the same to move With Vtheir cams in opposite directions upon operation of either, and terminal contacts and intermediate contacts engaged by said contacts on said sliding member.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two Witnesses.` ,i l

CHARLES J. KLEIN. Witnesses: 'j' f IV. L. RocKwnLL, F. I-I. HUBBARD. 

